2026 SESSION
INTRODUCED
26104850D
HOUSE BILL NO. 661
Offered January 14, 2026
Prefiled January 13, 2026
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 46.32-833 and 46.2-905 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 46.2-821.1, relating to traffic regulation; bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, electric power-assisted bicycles, and motorized skateboards or scooters.
—————
Patrons—Willett, Hernandez, Keys-Gamarra and Seibold; Senator: Roem
—————
Referred to Committee on Transportation
—————
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§ 46.32-833 and 46.2-905 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 46.2-821.1 as follows:
§ 46.2-821.1. Exception to stopping requirement; bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, or motorized skateboard or scooter.
Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 46.2-821 and 46.2-830, any person operating a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, or motorized skateboard or scooter may yield instead of stopping at an intersection controlled by a stop sign if all the following conditions are met:
1. Each intersecting highway has no more than two motor vehicle travel lanes;
2. The person is at least 15 years of age or accompanied by an adult;
3. The person slows to a reasonable speed based on existing conditions; and
4. Before proceeding into the intersection, the person stops for any pedestrian within the crosswalk, as required pursuant to § 46.2-924, and yields the right-of-way to any other vehicle approaching or entering such intersection from another direction.
§ 46.2-833. Traffic lights; penalty.
A. Signals by traffic lights shall be as follows:
Steady red indicates that moving traffic shall stop and remain stopped as long as the red signal is shown, except in the direction indicated by a steady green arrow.
Green indicates the traffic shall move in the direction of the signal and remain in motion as long as the green signal is given, except that such traffic shall yield to other vehicles and pedestrians lawfully within the intersection.
Steady amber indicates that a change is about to be made in the direction of the moving of traffic. When the amber signal is shown, traffic which has not already entered the intersection, including the crosswalks, shall stop if it is not reasonably safe to continue, but traffic which has already entered the intersection shall continue to move until the intersection has been cleared.
Flashing circular red indicates that traffic shall stop before entering an intersection. Such traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrian and vehicular traffic lawfully within the intersection.
Flashing red arrow indicates that traffic shall stop before entering an intersection. After stopping, traffic may cautiously enter the intersection to turn in the direction of the signal. Such traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrian and vehicular traffic lawfully within the intersection.
Flashing circular amber indicates that traffic may proceed through the intersection or past such signal with reasonable care under the circumstances. Such traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrian and vehicular traffic lawfully within the intersection.
Flashing amber arrow indicates that traffic may turn in the direction of such signal with reasonable care under the circumstances. Such traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrian and vehicular traffic lawfully within the intersection.
B. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a driver of a motorcycle or moped or a bicycle rider person riding a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, or motorized skateboard or scooter approaches an intersection that is controlled by a traffic light, the driver or rider person may proceed through the intersection on a steady red light only if the:
1. The driver or rider person (i) comes to a full and complete stop at the intersection for two complete cycles of the traffic light or for two minutes, whichever is shorter,; (ii) exercises due care as provided by law,; (iii) otherwise treats the traffic control device as a stop sign,; (iv) determines that it is safe to proceed,; and (v) yields the right of way to the driver of any vehicle approaching on such other highway from either direction; or
2. For a person riding a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, or motorized skateboard or scooter, (i) the pedestrian control signal corresponding to the person's direction of travel and to the parallel crosswalk to the right of the person exhibits words, numbers, or symbols meaning "Walk"; (ii) such person stops for pedestrians and yields the right-of-way to other traffic lawfully within the intersection and to any vehicle approaching the intersection from the right; and (iii) such person only proceeds straight or turns right through the intersection.
C. If the traffic lights controlling an intersection are out of service because of a power failure or other event that prevents the giving of signals by the traffic lights, the drivers of vehicles approaching such an intersection shall proceed as though such intersection were controlled by a stop sign on all approaches. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to: intersections controlled by portable stop signs, intersections with law-enforcement officers or other authorized persons directing traffic, or intersections controlled by traffic lights displaying flashing red or flashing amber lights as provided in subsection A.
D. The driver of any motor vehicle may be detained or arrested for a violation of this section if the detaining law-enforcement officer is in uniform, displays his badge of authority, and (i) has observed the violation or (ii) has received a message by radio or other wireless telecommunication device from another law-enforcement officer who observed the violation. In the case of a person being detained or arrested based on a radio message, the message shall be sent immediately after the violation is observed, and the observing officer shall furnish the license number or other positive identification of the vehicle to the detaining officer.
Violation of any provision of this section shall constitute a traffic infraction punishable by a fine of no more than $350.
§ 46.2-905. Riding bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, electric power-assisted bicycles, motorized skateboards or scooters, and mopeds on roadways and bicycle paths.
Any person operating a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, motorized skateboard or scooter, or moped on a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place under conditions then existing shall ride as close as safely practicable to the right curb or edge of the roadway, except under any of the following circumstances:
1. When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction;
2. When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway;
3. When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes that make it unsafe to continue along the right curb or edge;
4. When avoiding riding in a lane that must turn or diverge to the right; and
5. When riding upon a one-way road or highway, a person may also ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of such roadway as safely practicable.
For purposes of this section, a "substandard width lane" is a lane too narrow for a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, motorized skateboard or scooter, or moped and another vehicle to pass safely side by side within the lane.
Persons riding bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, electric power-assisted bicycles, or motorized skateboards or scooters on a highway shall not ride more than two abreast. Persons On roadways with only one travel lane in the direction of such persons and a posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour or more, persons riding two abreast shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic and shall move into a single-file formation as quickly as is practicable when being overtaken from the rear by a faster-moving vehicle. However, the failure. Failure to move into a single-file formation shall not constitute negligence per se in any civil action. This section shall not change any existing law, rule, or procedure pertaining to any such civil action, nor shall this section bar any claim that otherwise exists.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the Department of Conservation and Recreation shall permit the operation of electric personal assistive mobility devices on any bicycle path or trail designated by the Department for such use.